Credit

Restrictions:

This image may not be used to state or imply NOAO endorsement of any company or product.

Caption

Computer-coloured optical photograph of the Horsehead Nebula (NGC 2024), a dark nebula in the constellation of Orion. The nebula is created by opaque dust which absorbs light from the stars beyond. The Horsehead lies at a distance of over 1000 light years. The original black-and-white photograph was taken with the 4-metre telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.